Improved mode of propelling cars on railways



Y UNITED vSTATES PATENT Orricn.

CHARLES T. HARVEY, OF TARRYTOWN, NEW YORK.

IMPROVED MODE OF PROPELLING CARS ON RAILWAYS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N0. 54,537, dated 8, 1866antedated April 6, 1866.

To all 'whom'it ma/ y concern:

Beit known that I, CHARLES T. HARVEY, of the village of Tarrytown,county of Westchester, and State of New York, have invented a new andimproved method ofusing chain or rope for propelling cars or otherbodies upon railways, or their equivalent, when combined with stationarysteam or other power.

The nature of my invention consists in using wire or other rope or chaininside of a series of concave guiding-plates, which may have also, ontheir interior surface, projections or friction-slides, so called, forthe purpose of reducing the surface exposed to the friction of thepassing chain or 'rope and attachments thereto.

Also, in the peculiar construction of the chain or rope in having asattachments a series of bulbs or rounded projections made in orconnected with the same at regular intervals. These bulbs, 85e., areintended to receive the friction or wear from the motion communicated tothe chain or rope and protect it therefrom, and they will be designatedherein as ferrules,7 and those which connect portions of the chaintogether, as hereinafter described, as jointed ferrules.7

Also, in the surrounding of these ferrules by an outer adjustable ringto receive friction on hardened surfaces, and to be designated herein asfriction-rings.77

And I do hereby ldeclare that the following is a description of theconstruction and operation of the same, reference being had to theannexed drawings, making part of this speciication, in which- Figure 1is a perspective view of the guideplates and friction-slides in positionand inclosing the propelling-ropes with ferrules and adjustablefriction-rings attached. Fig. 2 is a perspective view ofthe chain orrope with several ferrules upon it in position. Fig. 3 is a transversesection of the chain or rope, exhibiting a jointed ferrule, exposing itsinterior construction in one convenient form. Fig. 4 is a perspectiveview of a ferrule, showing one model of affixing them tightly to thechain or rope by means of screws or rivets. Fig. 5 is another ortransverse view of a ferrule, showing how it can more irmly be held inplace by means of spurs and an uneven interior surface, in connectionwith the friction-ring encircling it. Figs. 6 and 7 are verticalsections of the ferrules, showin g the circumference of the chain orrope of the ferrules, and also of the frictionrings. i

In the practical application of my invention I rstconstruct thelongitudinal guide-plates A A, Fig. 1, supporting them with suchframework or device as will hold them firmly in `position andcontinuity. One side (usually the upper side) is left open for thepurpose of attaching the chain or rope within to the car or moving bodywithout by means of a clutch, grapple, or chain, or other equivalentdevice for purpose of connection. The reverse side will also be leftopen more or less to permit of the easy removal of deleteriousaccumulations within the guide-plates referred to.

On the interior surface of the guide-plates the projections termedfrictionslides, indicated by the letters B B B B B B in Fig. 1, whethermore or less in number, may be placed either as a part of or anattachment to the guide-plates aforesaid, their use being to receive thethrust and friction of the ferrules during the passage ofthe chain ontheir rounded edges, and thus reduce the surface of the interior of theguide-plates liable to friction to the smallestpracticable extent. Thesefrictionslides may be of wood or iron or other metal.

In the chamber or concave space between the guide-plates, constructed asabove, the endless or continuous chain or rope G C, in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4,and 5 is to pass, driven by wheels attached to steam or other power. Asthe friction andwear of ordinary chain or rope would prevent itspermanent use, especially at a high rate of speed, the bulbs or ferrulesD, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, are introduced to obviate this difficulty.They are placed at regular intervals to hold up the rope, 86e., fromtouching the guide-plates when the rope or chain is in motion, as wellas to prevent them- 1'. e., the rope or chain-from being thrown out frombetween the guide-plates, and also to enable a clutch to grasp entirelyaround the rope, and, by resting against the ferrule, maintain a firmhold.

The space between the guides B B, Src., and guide-plates A A, whencombined on the two sides, may be more or less, so long as the openingsbetwecn them are not sufficient to permit the passage of the ferrules DD from the inat the same timeleaving them considerable freedom of spacein the interior passage, enough at all times to permit of theintroduction of a clutch or equivalent between the ferrules and theinterior surface of the guide-plates, permitting the chain and ferrulesto pass through the clutch or equivalent without disturbing or moving itwhile inside the guide-plates aforesaid.

In constructing the wire or otherrope or chain provision is made forbreakage in the rope, &c., by having a portion of the ferrules D Dconstructed with a screw or otherwise contrived joint near the center,as shown at letters h 71l in Fig. 3. The orifice being enlarged near thecenter, the ends of the rope or chain are introduced and enlarged, so asto ll the orifice, and thus become permanently secured to the two endsof the ferrule. rI`l1e two ends of the ferrules being screwed orotherwise fastened together, the -rope or chain is thereby connectedwithout detriment to its intended purpose, and permits the division ofthe rope or chain into convenient sections whenin use.

Having thus described the jointed ferrule, the peculiar features of theordinary ferrule are to be noticed. These are intended to be adjustablein ordinary cases by being made in longitudinal equal sections, havingtheir interior surface made rough to cling irm] y to the rope, Ste., andto be held in place and together by means of rivets or screws, as at M Min Fig. 4 5 or the ferrules may be made as a part of the chain itself.

'Io prevent the rapid wear of the ferrules from friction against theirlargest circumference, I introduce an outer shield intended to be ofhardened metal, called friction-rings,7 as shown by the letter F inFig. 1. A groove is intended to be made for them, as shown by letter Ein Figs. 2,3, 4,5, which willhold them containing and guiding apropelling rope or chain, said plates having one or more openingsbetween or in them, permitting car connections, and also egress ofinjurious accumulations, substantially as and for purposes described.

2. Ihe combination and use of interior friction slides or projectionswith the aforementioned guide-plates, substantially as and for purposesdescribed.

3. The combinationand useof the ferru1es,7 so called, whether jointed oradjustable or permanently attached to or with the Wire or other rope orchain, substantially as described.

4. The combination and use of the adjustable friction-rings, so called,with the ferrules and rope or chain aforementioned, substantially asdescribed.

CHARLES T. HARVEY.

